Division I Men :      April 3, 2004 [ The Game Story]
Maryland 11 Virginia 2 Scoring: Scoring: Xander Ritz Joe Walters Dave Matz Mike Brown Paul Gillette Michael Phipps Bill Mcglone Ian Healy Jr Bordley Brendan Healy (3, 3) (1, 3) (1, 1) (2, 0) (0, 1) (1, 0) (1, 0) (1, 0) (1, 0) (0, 1) Foster Gilbert Jj Morrissey Jared Little (1, 0) (0, 1) (1, 0) Saves: Saves: Tim Mcginnis 17  (0.895) Tillman Johnson 14  (0.560) Current Record :     (8-0) Current Record :     (3-5) Team Page For 2004 Team Page For 2004       The Game Story:

The Terps proved today why they’re number one in the country as they went on to beat the defending National Champs 11-2. The first half was nothing but pure domination as the Terps opened up the first quarter with a 4-0 lead. They never looked back, with big days from Xander Ritz(3,3) and Joe Walters(1,3) the Terps offense couldn’t be stopped. The highly decorated defense took care of the rest, holding the Virginia big guns to only 2 goals.

Coming off a big win over a #1 Hopkins team, backs still against the wall for a playoff spot, and all the same wet field conditions as the 2003 final four win over Maryland, the signs were all around for Virginia to continue its come back into the playoff picture. But they forgot one thing- Maryland is No Joke. The first quarter started out with a few quick possessions on both ends until the Terps got on the board. After the first big save of the day by Tillman Johnson, a loose ball in the front of the cage would end up in the stick of Maryland’s JR Bordley who finished in style, diving to score, making it 1-0 Terps. After a few solid defensive efforts on both ends of the field, Maryland would light up the scoreboard again. This time driving down the left side, Dave Matz would feed freshman Michael Phipps cutting down the backside, to make it 2-0 Terps. Matz would draw a flag after the play to set up the next possession for Maryland. With 4:30 left in the quarter the Terps ran an effective man up play that ended with Joe Walters feeding Xander Ritz on the doorstep, making it 3-0. Maryland continued playing great defense and possessed the ball for most of the 1st Quarter. With the clock winding down in the first, the Terps started a break and with :01 left on the clock Joe Walters took an absolute cannon of a shot that beat Tillman Johnson stick side high. The quarter would end 4-0.

The second quarter started out a bit sloppy on both ends of the field with unforced turnovers and less than stellar footwork. After a big defensive stand on a Virginia man up possession, the Terps made it 5-0 with another goal from guess-who, Xander Ritz, off another nice feed from you-guessed-it, Joe Walters. Virginia would start to show signs of the past. A fast break found J.J. Morrissey with a nice feed from up top to a cutting Foster Gilbert, who would turn and stick it low and hard to make it 5-1. Virginia would hold the Terps off the board until a Dazzling individual effort by sophomore midfielder Billy McGlone , giving the Terps a 6-1 lead that they would take into the half.

The third quarter would see a more inspired Virginia team on the field as the got the scoring started with a goal by Jared Little. Driving his man down the left side, Little would sneak inside to rip a low hard shot, making it 6-2. Virginia played solid defense and, after some great up and down action, the offense drew a man up possession off a Maryland Penalty. Unfortunately for UVa, aggresive defense and great saves by Tim McGinnis would burn the man down and Virginia would be held scoreless for the rest of the game. After another string of great saves by Tillman Johnson, a tenacious ride by Maryland’s attack ended with Joe Walters feeding a trailing, that’s right, Xander Ritz, who would stick a low rocket to get the Terps seventh goal of the afternoon. The quarter ended 7-2, leaving one quarter for Virginia to salvage there season.

The fourth quarter was almost a carbon copy of the first, with nothing but spectacular saves by both goalies and a tear of goals by the Terps. It started quickly with the first possession for the Terps ending in an unselfish play by midfielder Brendan Healy, hitting wide-open freshman Mike Brown with a feed on the crease. Brown stuck it low to break the lead open to 8-2. Less than a minute later, Paul Gillette picked up one of his 4 groundballs and turned it into one of the sweetest goals of the day. Gillette found Freshman Mike Brown on the left wing, with Brown stinging the upper right corner to make it 9-2. Dave Matz would keep the crowd entertained, after a quick hard drive from behind a high hard rip over the left shoulder of Tillman Johnson would give the Terps the 10-2 advantage. The junior midfielder went 1 and 1 on the day. Tim McGinnis would finish out his incredible performance with 17 saves and 2 goals against. Tillman Johnson would make a save at the end of the fourth quarter worthy of a Top Ten spot on Sportscenter with a one on one stop that seemed like a magic trick. This would not be enough though as Xander Ritz went on to end a career day with another assist to a cutting Ian Healy who would stick the 11th and final goal of the game.

Maryland played a solid game all over the field with the defense leading the way. Great play by All-Americans Chris Passavia and Lee Zink and senior Captains Paul Gillette and Dave Wagner were key in the dominating performance. Sunday Fun Day will be in full affect for the Terps. Virginia has its work cut out for them if they want to make a run for the playoffs. The talent is there, but is the heart? The next few weeks will answer all the questions.